Daily Archive : Saturday April 19, 2014

News

Quinn: Tighter controls coming for Medicaid paymentsAssociated PressGov. Pat Quinn promised tighter controls Saturday after a review found that the Illinois Medicaid program paid an estimated $12 million for medical services for people who had already died. The Democratic governor told reporters he’s not happy with the findings and the state is on track to get back all of the money. “We’ve already recouped a great deal of the money,”...

Puppy mill protesters picket in BataviaBy Harry HitzemanProtesters from The Puppy Mill Project picketed along Randall Road in Batavia Saturday. Organizers said the effort was to help raise awareness and consumers about places like Petland and other stores that get their animals from USDA licensed breeders,which they consider to be puppy mills. The Petland owner said she visits each breeder to check on the care each puppy receives.

Web safety seminar:Daily Herald reportLincolnshire police will host a seminar for parents about social media trends and protecting children from online threats on May 27.

Willow Creek celebrates EasterDaily Herald reportAs families around the suburbs prepared to celebrate Easter today, thousands of congregants at Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington started the holiday early with special services on Friday and Saturday. Willow Creek, which has more than 20,000 members across six campuses, held Easter services throughout the weekend to accommodate its members. Easter is one of the holiest days on the...

Kayaker dies in accident on Fox River in GenevaBy Katlyn SmithOne man was killed and another injured Saturday in a kayaking accident near a dam on the Fox River in Geneva, fire officials said. Two bystanders -- an Ottawa police officer and a West Chicago man -- and emergency responders rescued a 26-year-old man who was recovering in a Geneva hospital Saturday night, officials said.

Geneva woman killed in motorcycle accident near ElginDaily Herald reportA 54-year-old Geneva woman was killed in a motorcycle accident about 3 p.m. Saturday west of Elgin on Route 20 near the intersection with Switzer Road in unincorporated Plato Township, the Kane County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release issues Saturday night.

Volunteers plant oaks in Kane County preserveBy Brian HillHundreds of volunteers left the beaten path and ventured into pastures of Fitchie Creek Forest Preserve in Elgin Saturday for the second straight year to plant trees. More than 400 oak trees were planted into pre-dug holes at the Kane County Forest Preserve property.

Easter Bunny visits Kane County Cougars fansBy Laura StoeckerThe Easter Bunny visited Kane County Cougars fans at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark in Geneva for breakfast and an Easter egg hunt on the ball field on Saturday. About 115 parents and children attended the first time-event, according to Director of Promotions Jenni Brechtel, adding the ballclub hopes to make it an annual event.

Colombia loses a literary giantFrom news wire reportsThis week’s notable deaths included a Nobel Prize-winning novelist and the billionaire founder of France’s second-largest drugmaker who was the focus of a healthcare scandal.

Ohio couple married 70 years die 15 hours apartAssociated PressAccording to Linda Cody, about 12 hours after Helen died, Kenneth looked at his children and said, “Mom’s dead.” He quickly began to fade and was surrounded by 24 of his closest family members and friends when he died the next morning. “He was ready,” Cody said. “He just didn’t want to leave her here by herself.”

Woman says beau stole her dog, TV on first dateAssociated PressAfter returning home, the woman said she became occupied in another room, leaving the man alone. When she returned, he was gone — and so were her Yorkshire Terrier named Violet and her TV valued at $3,000. The woman says her dog was worth $4,000.

Range showdown draws a line in the sand for rancher’s supportersAssociated PressSen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., called Bundy’s supporters “domestic terrorists” and said a federal task force was being formed to deal with the unrest. Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev., told a KSNV-TV interviewer on Friday: “What Sen. Reid may call domestic terrorists, I call patriots.”

NASA’s space station Robonaut finally getting legsAssociated PressUntil a battery backpack arrives on another supply ship later this year, the multimillion-dollar robot will need a power extension cord to stretch its legs, limiting its testing area to the U.S. side of the space station. Testing should start in a few months.

Looming, creeping landslide splits home in WyomingAssociated PressA slow-motion disaster is unfolding in the Wyoming resort town of Jackson as a creeping landslide that split a hillside home in half inches toward more houses and businesses below. The ground beneath the 100-foot hillside has been giving way an inch at a time since the movement was discovered on April 4.

Dogs hunt for Easter treats in PalatineBy Melissa SilverbergEaster can be fun for even the furriest family members. More than 100 dogs and their owners posed for pictures with the Easter Bunny, searched for colorful eggs filled with dog treats and took turns on a small agility course as part of the annual Hound Egg Hunt in downtown Palatine on Saturday morning.

22-year prison term for repeat burglarBy Harry HitzemanA 51-year-old man was sentenced to 22 years in prison Friday for a June 2012 apartment burglary in Downers Grove. An arrest warrant for Steven Mantucca, of Mt. Sterling, was issued in June 2013 after DNA from his glasses left at the scene linked him to the crime. He had six previous convictions for residential burglary or attempted burglary and nine felony convictions overall in Illinois.

Antioch celebrates 23rd annual Eggcellent Easter AdventureBy Joe LewnardAntioch celebrated Easter with a flair Saturday including a visit from the Easter Bunny, a parade and an egg hunt. It was all part of the Antioch Parks and Recreation Department's 23rd Annual Eggcellent Easter Adventure.

Naperville Jaycees hold 29th annual Egg HuntBy Mark BlackThe Naperville Jaycees held their 29th annual Egg Hunt at Frontier Sports Complex in Naperville Saturday. Karen Coleman of the Jaycees estimated there would be 3,500 to 5,000 people in attendance from 500 to 800 families, tryint to snatch up as many of the 14,000 plastic Easter eggs as they could. The eggs were filled with candy, trinkets, coupons and a few special “Golden Tickets”...

Raccoons enter substation, spark power outageAssociate PressHundreds of homes in eastern Indiana lost power in the middle of the night after officials say two raccoons slipped into a power substation and short-circuited electrical breakers.

Costa Rican a celebrity after certified miracleAssociated Press Mora was diagnosed with a brain aneurysm and sent home to rest and take pain medication in April 2011 after doctors said the problem was inoperable. Mora, who thought she was simply returning home to await death, looked at the image of John Paul on May 1, the day of John Paul’s beatification six years after his death. Then, she says, it spoke to her.

Asia seeks Obama’s assurance in territorial spatsAssociated PressU.S. officials have tried to keep China from supporting Russia’s moves in Ukraine by appealing to Beijing’s well-known and vehement opposition to outside intervention in other nations’ domestic affairs.

Iran vice president says reactors will be redesignedAssociated PressIranian state television quoted Salehi, who heads the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, as saying that Iran has proposed to redesign Arak to produce one-fifth of the plutonium initially planned for it.

Golden eagle found in Wyoming tied for second-oldestAssociated PressThe lab reported the bird had been tagged as a fledgling in 1983 near Gillette. The bird’s estimated age was 30 years, 9 months, tying for second place in the lab’s longevity records with a Colorado eagle.

Governor recalls morning he closed BostonAssociated PressOn what otherwise would be a normal weekday, people stayed home. Stores in Boston were shuttered, streets deserted and an eerie silence prevailed while authorities searched for the bombing suspect and attempted to cut off escape routes.

Geneva man gets probation for growing 69 pot plantsBy Harry HitzemanA 49-year-old Geneva man pleaded guilty to growing 69 marijuana plants on the side of his home and was sentenced to two years probation. Gregory T. Panzer also must pay some $5,500 in court fines and fees and could be resentenced to up to seven years in prison if he fails to stay out of trouble.

Strong earthquake strikes off Papua New GuineaAssociated PressA powerful earthquake has struck off the South Pacific nation of Papua New Guinea. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage, but a tsunami warning was in effect.

Bombs kill 4 in shopping street of Iraqi capitalIraqi police say two bombs planted on a street full of shoppers in Baghdad have killed four people and wounded eight. They say the explosions took place in the capital’s predominantly Sunni neighborhood of Dora on Saturday morning.

Sub search for missing plane to be done in weekAssociated PressAn underwater robotic submarine is expected to finish searching a narrowed down area of the Indian Ocean seabed for the missing Malaysia Airlines plane within the next week, after completing six missions and so far coming up empty, the search coordination center said Saturday.

Famous television host in Pakistan shot by gunmenAssociated PressPolice in Pakistan say gunmen have shot a famous television talk show host amid a wave of attacks on journalists in the country. Police say Hamid Mir, a host on the private television broadcaster Geo, was wounded in the attack Saturday near Karachi’s airport.

New festival to honor Studs TerkelAssociated PressThe University of Chicago plans a festival to honor late writer and broadcaster Studs Terkel. The new “Let’s Get Working” festival will be at the school’s Logan Center for the Arts from May 9 to 11.

At barricades, Ukraine insurgents await EasterAssociated PressPro-Russian forces in eastern Ukraine on Saturday prepared to celebrate Orthodox Easter at barricades outside government offices seized in nearly a dozen cities, despite an international agreement to disarm and free the premises.

Gap between Indiana wages, living costs growsAssociated PressIndiana workers’ pay didn’t keep pace with inflation last year, and economic experts say the state needs to focus more on the quality of jobs instead of the quantity to close the distance.

Chicago cops to patrol most violent areas on bikesAssociated PressSome of the police officers who have been patrolling Chicago’s most violent neighborhoods on foot are getting bicycles. The idea is to extend the amount of territory they can cover while allowing officers to maintain close interaction with residents.

Captain of sunken South Korean ferry, 2 crew arrested
Associated PressThe captain of the ferry that sank off South Korea, leaving more than 300 missing or dead, was arrested Saturday on suspicion of negligence and abandoning people in need. Two crew members also were taken into custody, including a rookie third mate who a prosecutor said was steering in challenging waters unfamiliar to her when the accident occurred.

Mexican dance group in Elgin looking for new spaceBy Elena FerrarinA Mexican dance group for youth and adults in Elgin hopes to find a space to practice that offers heating and air-conditioning. Ballet Folklorico Girasol has been in existence for about for years, and for the last two has been practicing at Grand Plaza El Mesias indoor mall in Elgin.

New Lake County GOP leader wants unityBy Russell LissauThe newest leader of Lake County’s Republican Party calls himself a conservative. But unlike those conservatives who dismiss anyone with views even slightly different from theirs, Mike Amrozowicz isn’t about to write off socially moderate members of the GOP. “I think it’s foolish,” Amrozowicz said of the all-or-nothing attitude. “It’s really simple...

Judson students design shelters for disaster reliefBy Madhu KrishnamurthyJudson University sophomore architecture students have designed and built creative emergency shelters for rapid deployment and setup in areas affected by natural or man-made disasters. The prototypes will be entered into the Disaster Shelter Competition — sponsored by World Vision and John Brown University (JBU) — April 24 and 25 at JBU in Siloam Springs, Ark.

Study: Suburban schools could lose or gain if income tax dropsAssociated Press Most suburban school districts would see cuts in funding if the state’s temporary income tax increase is rolled back as scheduled, according to a state board of education figures circulated by Illinois Democrats. But a few suburban districts, such as in Wauconda, Carpentersville and even Barrington, would actually receive substantially more money.

DuPage businessman helping inner-city community centerBy Bob SmithA DuPage County businessman is sponsoring a fundraiser in Lisle to generate support for a community center serving the Austin neighborhood on Chicago's West Side. Tom Sodeika says it's the least he can do to help a worthy cause.

Sports

Durant leads Thunder past Grizzlies 100-86Associated PressKevin Durant scored 13 of his 33 points in the fourth quarter to help the Oklahoma City Thunder defeat the Memphis Grizzlies 100-86 on Saturday night in the opening game of their first-round series. Russell Westbrook had 23 points and 10 rebounds and Serge Ibaka added 17 points and nine rebounds for the Thunder, who nearly squandered a 25-point lead but recovered from a dismal third quarter to make 10 of 16 shots in the fourth.

Landeskog leads Avs to 4-2 win over WildAssociated PressGabriel Landeskog scored twice and Semyon Varlamov stopped 30 shots, lifting the Colorado Avalanche to a 4-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Saturday night and a 2-0 series lead. The Wild were unable to contain the quickness of teenager Nathan MacKinnon, who had a goal and three assists. Stastny, the star of Game 1, also had a goal and three assists. His empty-netter sealed the win after Marco Scandella made it a one-goal game with 1:19 remaining.

Botched penalty kick costs Fire first victory For the second consecutive home game, the Fire missed a penalty kick in second-half extra time that would have won the game. This time it was second-half substitute Juan Luis Anangono who stepped up and offered a PK that Revolution goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth saved easily, preserving the tie.

Lewis gets 1st win in 2 years, Texas 6-3 over SoxAssociated PressColby Lewis pitched into the sixth inning for his first win in nearly two years, Prince Fielder homered and the Texas Rangers beat the Chicago White Sox 6-3 on Saturday night. Lewis (1-1) struck out four while allowing only one run over 5 1-3 innings. The right-hander, the first known major league pitcher to return from a unique hip procedure, won for the first time since June 17, 2012.

Red Stars open with winBy Orrin SchwarzThe Chicago Red Stars got their 2014 season off to a good start, defeating the Western New York Flash 1-0 in Saturday’s season opener.

Antioch tops in own tourneyDaily Herald reportMikayla Abbeduto and Tessa Furlong each scored twice, as Antioch’s girls soccer team blanked Westosha Central 4-0 to win its own invite Saturday.

Mundelein musters up big Ballpark sweepDaily Herald reportMundelein’s softball team had a ball at The Ballpark in Rosemont again. After beating Grant at the outdoor stadium earlier this season, the Mustangs swept a doubleheader from Leyden Saturday, winning 13-0 in the opener and 21-8 in the second game. Mundelein (9-5) had 41 hits on the day.

Neuqua Valley downs Naperville CentralBy Chris WalkerThe comforts of home are often taken for granted. Neuqua Valley doesn’t have turf like many of its biggest neighboring rivals, but the Wildcats found themselves at home on the natural surface on Saturday afternoon against Naperville Central.

Blues know Hawks will be readyBy Mike SpellmanYou can’t blame the Blues if they’re taking absolutely nothing for granted despite being up 2-0 in their series with the Blackhawks.That’s because last year they were in the same exact situation against Los Angeles, and wound up losing the series.

Hit might get Blackhawks’ Seabrook suspendedBy Mike SpellmanIn a game that featured a ton of big hits, none was bigger — or had bigger ramifications — than Brent Seabrook’s shoulder to the head of David Backes in the final minutes of regulation during the Blackhawks’ 4-3 overtime loss to St. Louis.

Bulls’ Noah grieves loss of mentorBy Mike McGrawJoakim Noah was back at the Berto Center on Saturday after a trip to New York due to the death of his basketball mentor, Tyron Green. Noah often credited Green for helping his development.

Lakes stays hot, tops Grayslake C.Daily Herald reportLakes’ baseball team stayed hot Saturday. After losing their first five games of the season, the Eagles have won four straight. Justin Blasinski hit a tiebreaking homer in the sixth, as Lakes beat host Grayslake Central 4-2 in nonconference action.

Blue Jackets edge Penguins 4-3 in double overtimeAssociated PressPITTSBURGH — Matt Calvert banged home a rebound 1:10 into the second overtime and the Columbus Blue Jackets earned the first playoff victory in franchise history with a 4-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday night.Pittsburgh’s Marc-Andre Fleury stuffed the initial shot by Cam Atkinson but Calvert stood all alone at the left post and wristed a shot into the open net to even the Eastern Conference quarterfinals at one game each.Game 3 is Monday in Columbus.Jack Johnson tied the game with 6:01 left in regulation for the Blue Jackets. Ryan Johansen also scored the first playoff goal of his career for Columbus. Sergei Bobrovsky overcame a shaky start to finish with 39 saves.Brian Gibbons scored twice and Matt Niskanen added his second goal of the playoffs but Pittsburgh was outplayed for much of the final three-plus periods. Fleury made 41 stops but was helpless on the game-winner.The Penguins have dropped four straight home overtime playoff games and blew a chance to take a 2-0 series lead when they failed to bury the Blue Jackets early on.Instead, Columbus weathered an opening storm and recovered to collect the team’s first playoff victory since the expansion team made its debut on Oct. 7, 2000 — 4,493 days ago.The Blue Jackets were the better team for long stretches and kept Pittsburgh’s high-powered special teams in check. The Penguins went just 1 for 8 on the power play.Both teams traded quality chances in the first overtime period. Bobrovsky made an excellent blocker save on Sidney Crosby racing down the right wing. Fleury stuffed R.J. Umberger from point blank range earlier in the period. There was no back-and-forth in the second extra session. Brandon Dubinsky started the winning play by jabbing the puck at Fleury and Pittsburgh’s defense offered little resistance until the puck was on Calvert’s stick for the winner.The Penguins knew they couldn’t afford a repeat of the first 21 minutes of Game 1, when the Blue Jackets knocked them around while streaking to a two-goal lead. Though Pittsburgh rallied to escape, the Penguins knew they were fortunate against a team making just its second playoff appearance in franchise history.This time, Pittsburgh’s start wasn’t the problem. It was everything else.Gibbons scored the first two playoff goals of his career 54 seconds apart — including a nifty short-handed breakaway in which he undressed Bobrovsky — to give the Penguins a 2-0 lead before the game was 5 minutes old. The giddiness didn’t last long, for the Penguins or Gibbons.Johansen scored before the power play expired and Gibbons, elevated to Pittsburgh’s top line midway through Game 1, did not return after colliding with Johansen midway through the first period. While a Niskanen shot from the point with 2:08 left in the first restored Pittsburgh’s two-goal edge, it only seemed to galvanize the Blue Jackets.Pittsburgh appeared primed to push the lead to three when Columbus forward Blake Comeau gift-wrapped a power play for the Penguins by tackling defenseman Paul Martin right in front of the referee a good 50 feet behind the play.Instead, it brought Columbus to life. Some lethargic Pittsburgh passing set up a 3-on-1 short-handed breakaway for the Blue Jackets, with Calvert beating Fleury to bring Columbus within one. The disjointed effort by the Penguins deflated the bench and the building. Only stellar play by Fleury over the final 10 minutes of the second period kept Pittsburgh in front.The wave carried over into the third, with Columbus eventually drawing even on Johnson’s power-play goal with 6 minutes to go.

Confidence is catching on Libertyville splits with BarringtonBy Joe AguilarThe game-ending flyball off the bat of Barrington sophomore call-up Jenna Fingerman, which Libertyville right fielder Kenzie Rother caught just in front of the fence, was a little tricky. Kind of like the unconventional spelling of Tayler Oberman’s first name. There’s no “o” in there for the girl who jump-starts Libertyville’s “O.” “My mom,” Oberman said with a grin. “She likes to make things difficult.” Libertyville’s softball journey from mediocrity to elite in Lake County? Not easy. By beating visiting Barrington 4-2 in Game 1 of a nonconference doubleheader Saturday, Libertyville improved to 14-0. Barrington got a little payback in Game 2, scoring twice in the seventh to win 6-4, improve to 9-5 and hand the Wildcats their first loss.

Plenty of Skorin as Rolling Meadows sweepsDaily Herald reportEnjoying a big day at the plate, Rolling Meadows four-year varsity player Grace Skorin belted the first two homers of her career and went 6-for-8 to help the Mustangs sweep host Evanston 9-1 and 7-6 in a softball doubleheader on Saturday. Skorin hit a pair of two out, 2-run home runs in the first inning of each game as the Mustangs got wins from pitchers Lauren Hattory and Lydia Schlutz.

Fremd’s depth shows; Schaumburg flies to victoryBy Jeff NewtonOne characteristic of the Fremd boys track team during the nearly three decades that Jim Aikens has been head coach is that the Vikings have used incredible depth en route to 13 conference titles and numerous state qualifiers. So when it came for the third edition of the cross-town rivalry dual meet with Palatine, the Vikings quite naturally used their edge in depth to take home bragging rights for a second straight year.

Softball/Fox Valley roundupDaily Herald reportBrooke Gaylord fired a 4-hitter and Burlington Central’s softball team made the most of its extra-base hits Saturday in a 3-1 nonconference win over St. Charles North and Northwestern recruit Sabrina Rabin.

Allied soccer’s first effort is truly specialBy Joe AguilarAfter a competitive coed match that featured several wickedly kicked soccer balls, a concerned Ernie Billittier approached a student who was flexing her jaw. “One of the girls (a helper, or ‘buddy’) was like, ‘My face hurts,’” Mundelein’s coach said. “I asked her if she got hit with the ball. She’s like, ‘No. I haven’t smiled like that in a long time.’ ” If you watched the reaction of Stevenson’s Josh Standiford after one of his — not one, not two, not three — four goals, you smiled for the animated Stevenson freshman. It didn’t matter if you were rooting for Stevenson or Mundelein.

Hawks take 1-0 lead by rolling past Pacers 101-93Associated PressJeff Teague scored a playoff career-high 28 points and Paul Millsap added 25 as eighth-seeded Atlanta rolled past top-seeded Indiana 101-93 on Saturday night, taking a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. The Hawks ended an eight-game road losing streak in the playoffs, which dated to May 2011. Game 2 is Tuesday in Indianapolis.

Deja vu all over again for BlackhawksBy Mike SpellmanSt. Louis coach Ken Hitchcock was one prescient dude just hours before the Blackhawks and Blues met for the second time in about 36 hours. “I would say the order of the day would be chaos,” he predicted. “Just prepare to play in the chaos.” Boy oh boy did Hitchcock make the right call there, because as impossible as it was to imagine a hockey game being any more chaotic than Thursday’s three-overtime thriller, won 4-3 by the Blues, well, Saturday’s overtime win by the Blues, also by a 4-3 margin, absolutely topped it.

Baseball/Fox Valley roundupDaily Herald reportHoffman Estates 7, Elgin 6: The Maroons rallied for 2 runs in the top of the seventh on Clay White’s RBI double and Kiko Mari’s RBI groundball, but the tying run was left in scoring position by consecutive game-ending groundouts. Omar Valadez went 2-for-4 with a double, Mari doubled and drove in 2 runs and Ryan Sitter went 3-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk. Jon Nelson (2-2) was the losing pitcher for Elgin (3-6). Schaumburg 10, Streamwood 0, 5 inn.: Three Schaumburg pitchers combined to throw a no-hitter against the Sabres in this nonconference affair. Zach Campbell was the losing pitcher for Streamwood (4-8, 2-5).Neuqua Valley 19, Larkin 4, 5 inn.: Rob Bond doubled and Tyler Kalusa, Brayden Royse and Jack McCracken singled, but the Royals were outhit 13-4 in this Upstate Eight crossover. Will King took the loss for the Royals (5-7, 1-4).Huntley 13, Belvidere North 3, 5 inn.: Mark Skonieczny went 3-for-3 with a triple, 2 doubles and a walk, Matt Sullivan (3-for-3) doubled twice, Tommy Kiriakopoulos (3-for-3) doubled and drove in 2 runs and Brandon Altergott (2-for-3) tripled for Huntley (12-3-1) in this nonconference home win. Winning pitcher Mason Martin allowed 3 runs (2 earned) on 3 hits and a walk and struck out three in 5 innings.Marian Central 10, Crystal Lake South 8: The Gators scored 5 runs in the top of the fifth to draw within 8-7, but the Hurricanes scored 2 insurance runs in their half of the fifth and prevailed in nonconference play. Michael Danca took the loss for the Gators (7-4).Jacobs sweeps split DH: The Golden Eagles stayed hot by beating Conant 5-2 on Saturday morning and defeating Notre Dame 3-1 in the afternoon. Brenden Heiss earned the win against Conant. He held the Cougars to 3 runs (2 earned) on 3 hits and 3 walks and struck out seven. Jake Jemmi pitched a scoreless seventh to earn the save, and Grant Kale went 2-for-3 with 2 RBI. Ryan Sargent pitched a 4-hitter against Notre Dame with 1 walk and 9 strikeouts. Heiss and Danny Vandewalker drove in runs for Jacobs (12-4), which made the most of 5 hits and 3 errors by the Dons. Wheaton Academy 16, Westminster Christian 9: The Warriors used a 5-run fourth inning to take a 5-3 lead, but Wheaton Academy rallied for 13 runs in its final three at-bats to take control of this nonconference meeting. Frank Anguilo went 3-for-4 and drove in 2 runs and Luke Weston doubled and drove in 2 runs for Westminster Christian (3-11).South Elgin 3, Fremd 2: Nick Menken was the hero Saturday afternoon for the Storm (5-3) as he doubled home the eventual game-winner in the top of the seventh in nonconference play against Fremd. Ryan Nutof (RBI), Dane Toppel and Menken each had 2 hits on the day. Going the distance was Keough Maxwell, giving up just 2 unearned runs on 6 hits.

Girls soccer/Fox Valley roundupDaily Herald reportSt. Charles North 1, Huntley 0: With the game a dead heat going into the final minutes, St. Charles North broke through and handed the Red Raiders (9-4) a loss at the PepsiCo Showdown. Jessica Galason finished with 2 saves in goal.Burlington Central 0, Fenwick 0: The Rockets (3-3-2) drew a tie after 80 minutes of action as they could not get one by Fenwick at the PepsiCo Showdown. Abbi Ciganek had 8 saves on the night to keep the draw alive.Dundee-Crown 3, Lake Park 3: The Chargers (2-3-2) were unable to make a 2-1 halftime lead stick, settling for a draw against host Lake Park at the Lake Park Tournament. Alyssa Moreno scored twice, once unassisted, along with Franki Scarpelli. Alexis Lewis and Ashley Raby added assists. Keeper Isabel Miranda finished with 6 saves.Hampshire splits a pair: Playing at the DeKalb Tournament on Saturday afternoon, the Whip-Purs (2-5) beat Hinckley-Big Rock 3-2, but fell to Yorkville 2-0 later in the day. Katie Kochanski and Laurie Kochanski both scored, with Lexie Maze assisting on both and capturing a goal herself. Kaila Kienzler had 4 saves in the first half while Katie came in the second and finished with 3 saves against Hinckley. In the second game, the Whip-Purs could not use their momentum gathered to eke out the second win, going down 2-0 in the first half. Switching roles, Kochanski had 14 saves in the first half, with Kienzler finishing the day with 10 saves. Larkin 2, Belvidere 2: Samantha Moreno scored twice but the Royals (1-7-1) could not hold the lead, tying with Belvidere at home in nonconference action. Both of Moreno’s goals were assisted by Jaci Bridgers, while teammate Alejandra Villagomez had 5 saves in goal.Immaculate Conception 4, Westminster Christian 1: The Warriors could get no closer after drawing even at the half, falling at home in nonconference play. Liz Meschewski was assisted by Alexa Pederson for the lone goal. Keeper Savannah Dutcher was able to make 12 saves.Latin 10, Elgin Academy 0: Despite 10 saves by sophomore keeper Kaleigh Richetti, the Hilltoppers still fell in Independent School League play. Latin led by 7 at the half.

A singular success for Libertyville’s VanDixhornBy Mike GarofolaJust a few days from committing to play at collegiately at Northwestern, Ben VanDixhorn put an exclamation point on a great week of high school tennis. The talented lefty from Libertyville breezed through a trio of opponents on his way to the singles title at No. 1 during the annual Huskie-Knight Tennis Invite co-hosted by Mid-Suburban East schools Hersey and Prospect.

Zdroik, St. Edward claim Challenge crownBy John RadtkeSt. Edward has hosted the Chicagoland Challenge softball tournament since 2002, yet the Green Wave has never won the championship. Until now. Sophomore Lindsay Zdroik threw a masterful 2-hitter with 15 strikeouts in a 4-0 semifinal win over Farmington, then returned for the final two innings after starting and going the first three in the Wave’s 8-5 championship game win against Hampshire at Anderson Park, the home of the Wasco Diamonds, in rural St. Charles.

Do Blackhawks still have will to win?By Barry RoznerWhat we learned from the Blackhawks last year is that there’s enormous character on this club and a will to win that goes beyond what’s normal. On Monday, we’ll find out what’s left in the emotional tank.

As usual for Bulls, it will come down to defenseBy Mike McGrawJohn Wall's speed gets plenty of attention, but the Washington Wizards are a team that loves to pound opponents with high screens by the big men. Clamping down on the pick and rolls might be the Bulls' most important job in this first-round series.

St. Charles East answers Batavia’s challengeBy Darryl MellemaJust 2 minutes before halftime, and 1 minute after falling behind at rival Batavia, St. Charles East’s girls soccer team increased its work rate to previously unseen levels on Saturday afternoon. The result was a game-tying goal, a scrambling, scruffy goal which Rion Gaffney forced over the line at the right post. That goal turned the tide irretrievably in favor of the visitors, who went to win the Upstate Eight Conference River Division contest 2-1 thanks to a highlight reel header from Kelli Santo Paolo from a Shannon Rasmussen cross.

Douglas, St. Viator convert at CarmelBy Rusty SilberFor St. Viator’s girls soccer team, the season is a work in progress as a young group grows together. The Lions showed Saturday it’s possible to win while making that progress. St. Viator improved to 5-3 overall and 3-0 in the East Suburban Catholic Conference by topping host Carmel 2-1 on Saturday morning in Mundelein. Delia Douglas had both goals on rebound opportunities for the Lions as Carmel dropped to 4-3-2 and 1-1-1.

Benet brings its bats, sweeps at CarmelBy Bill PemsteinAs the weather warms up, so do the Benet Academy bats. The Redwings (8-4) won a doubleheader last week by a combined score of 36-3. The searing swinging continued as Benet arrived in Mundelein on Saturday afternoon.

Dynamic Impact wins Illinois Derby in photo finishAssociated PressDynamic Impact ran down 2-5 favorite Midnight Hawk in the stretch to win the $500,000 Illinois Derby by a nose at Hawthorne Race Course on Saturday. Ridden by Miguel Mena, Dynamic Impact ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.07 against seven rivals. “Nobody chased the favorite, so I had to go and put some pressure on him,” Mena said.

Back spasms force Rizzo to come outBy Bruce MilesCubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo left Saturday's 8-4 victory over the Reds in the eighth inning because of back spasms. Rizzo said he's had the ailment in the past and that he hopes to be able to play Sunday.

Palatine, Conant produce tourney winsDaily Herald reportGirls water poloPalatine won three times on Saturday to complete a perfect 4-0 performance for top honors in the girls water polo tournament hosted by St. Viator.In Saturday’s games, the Pirates topped St. Charles North 8-3, Lockport 12-2, and, against Prospect for the title, the Pirates won 7-0.Caroline Wojtas had a team-best 3 goals against St. Charles North; Rachel Chumbook had 7 goals against Lockport and Chumbook and Wojtas had 2 each against Prospect.Palatine improved its overall record to 20-3.Conant perfect at VH: The Mid-Suburban West leaders added three more wins to their season total in tournament play at Vernon Hills.In a 10-2 win over Hoffman Estates, Angie Skittone led Conant with 3 goals.In an 11-3 triumph against Maine West, Skittone had 5 goals and Maddie Demaret stopped 10 shots.And in a 6-1 victory over the tournament hosts, Carmen Rosas had 5 goals while Demaret made 11 saves and had 5 steals.Conant’s overall record stands at 17-4.

Fire winless after 1-1 draw vs. RevsAssociated PressNew England Revolution goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth stopped Juan Luis Anangono’s penalty kick in the first minute of stoppage time Saturday to preserve a 1-1 draw with the Chicago Fire, who matched a Major League Soccer record with their sixth straight tie. The Fire have tied each match since losing their opener. The six straight draws equaled an MLS mark last set by the Colorado Rapids in 2011.

Hampshire’s Schramm shuts out St. EdwardBy Brian SchaumburgTrey Schramm made just his second appearance on the mound Saturday. The Hampshire baseball team has needed the junior at his normal shortstop position. Schramm did not allow a run and struck out seven in 6 innings as the Whip-Purs beat St. Edward, 4-0, in Hampshire.

Focused Cubs take Renteria’s message to heartBy Bruce MilesOne day after Cubs manager Rick Renteria vented his spleen following a sloppy loss, his team went out Saturday and beat the Cincinnati Reds 8-4 at Wrigley Field. Renteria was all smiles about the result and the approach.

Huntley, South Elgin split crazy DHBy Allen OshinskiThe wind didn’t actually blow out that much at the Huntley softball field, but it sure seemed like it did. A few defensive lapses didn’t help, either, as South Elgin and Huntley split a wild nonconference doubleheader Saturday.South Elgin won the first game, 8-4, behind Paige Allen, but the Red Raiders rebounded to salvage the split with a 14-12 win in the nightcap.

St. Viator splits behind McElroy’s strong first gameBy Dick QuaglianoJack McElroy’s complete game effort helped St. Viator earn a split with Marian Catholic on Saturday in the Lions’ East Suburban Catholic League opener in Arlington Heights. McElroy limited the Spartans to just 5 hits in the opener and got a key game ending double play as the Lions took the opener 5-3. But Marian Catholic came back in the night cap to bang out 15 hits and gain an 8-6 victory.

Felde fires Schaumburg past JacobsBy Dave HessOverpowering fastball, moving rise ball and backbreaking changeup. Schaumburg hurler Shannon Felde had her entire arsenal of pitches working in masterfully throwing a 2-hit shutout as the Saxons blanked host Jacobs 8-0 in Game 1 of a nonconference doubleheader Saturday in Algonquin. Schaumburg completed the sweep with a 6-5 win in Game 2.

Images: Blackhawks vs. Blues, Game TwoImages of game two of the NHL Playoff Series as the Chicago Blackhawks played the St. Louis Blues in another overtime thriller at Scottrade Center in St. Louis on Saturday. The Blues beat the Blackhawks 4-3.

Miami (Ohio) honors Ravens’ Harbaugh with statueAssociated PressOXFORD, Ohio — John Harbaugh likes the pose on his bronze statue.The Baltimore Ravens coach was added to Miami University’s Cradle of Coaches on Saturday. He unveiled a sculpture of himself with right arm raised in triumph on the Baltimore sideline — something he did only half the time last season at 8-8.“I like the pose,” he said. “That looks like a winning pose right there. That’s one we usually take when we win. I feel good about the pose. I’d like to see that pose a few more times this year.”So would his alma mater.The Mid-American Conference school put Harbaugh’s induction on the fast track after he won the Super Bowl for the 2012 season. A display of statues on a plaza outside the football stadium honors Miami graduates who were honored as national coaches of the year, inducted into the college or professional football halls of fame, or who have won collegiate or pro championships.Harbaugh’s is the ninth statue on the plaza, joining the likenesses of Earl “Red” Blaik, Paul Brown, Carm Cozza, Paul Dietzel, Weeb Ewbank, Ara Parseghian, John Pont and Bo Schembechler.The 1984 Redhawks’ graduate chose Schembechler’s mantra of “the team, the team, the team” as part of the inscription below his statue. Harbaugh’s father, Jack, was an assistant to Schembechler at Michigan.He compared the honor to Bubba Watson winning his second Masters.“This cradle is the greatest honor in coaching, if you understand what it’s all about,” Harbaugh said. “It’s like Bubba Watson said last week. He was asked, ‘You ever dream of something like this?’ He said, ‘Naw, my dreams never got this far.’ That’s exactly how I feel.”David Sayler, the school’s athletic director, noted that many football recruits aren’t familiar with the other honored coaches, but they know about Harbaugh.“John is going to serve as a link to this generation to all of this around us (on the plaza),” Sayler said. “So it brings it back to the forefront and makes it relevant again and makes people talk about it again.”Miami is coming off one of the worst seasons in its history. The RedHawks went 0-12, only the fourth time since 1900 that they failed to win a game. Coach Don Treadwell was fired after the first five losses, replaced by offensive coordinator Mike Bath for the rest of the season. In December, Miami hired Notre Dame offensive coordinator Chuck Martin as the next head coach. Harbaugh talked to the returning players over the weekend and watched some of their spring practice on Saturday. He also wore a hard hat and dug a shovel of dirt as part of a groundbreaking ceremony for a new covered practice field nearby.During an interview, he said was thinking of eventually becoming a coach when he was a defensive back at the school.“When you grow up as a coach’s kid, you’re probably always thinking about it,” he said. “I was probably trying to think about getting through the next day and getting to the next class, but I think it’s always on your mind as a coach’s kid.”Next on his mind is a Ravens’ turnaround. They overhauled their roster to fit under the salary cap after their Super Bowl season, and it didn’t turn out well. Baltimore finished at .500 and missed the playoffs for the first time in Harbaugh’s six seasons as coach.Offseason workouts start Monday for the Ravens.“Maybe it’s the same mentality as Miami right now,” he said. “Maybe we’re really hungry. Maybe we’ve got a little bit of a chip on our shoulders. Our guys are excited about getting started.”

Sweep against Willowbrook gives Downers South an edgeBy Kevin SchmitDowners Grove South’s baseball team knows better than anyone that one good April weekend doesn’t win a conference title. Saturday, though, was a big step in that direction. The Mustangs scored a key doubleheader sweep of visiting Willowbrook with Saturday’s 11-1 and 8-1 victories. They’ll try for the West Suburban Gold Conference sweep Monday in Villa Park.

Down but not out, BG roars into tourney finalBy Mike GarofolaIn one of the most dramatic matches of the season, Buffalo Grove’s girls soccer team won a test of endurance, will and strength on Saturday afternoon. The Bison fired back from a 3-1 deficit to beat Lyons Township 4-3 and to advance into the PepsiCo Showdown final next Sunday at Toyota Park, where Buffalo Grove will defend its championship.

Raptors GM Ujiri uses profanity about NetsAssociated PressRaptors general manager Masai Ujiri let loose a profanity about the Brooklyn Nets during a pregame address meant to pump up a group of fans outside Air Canada Centre before Saturday’s opening game of the NBA playoffs. Several hundred fans gathered outside the downtown arena for a party and to watch the game on a huge screen above the west entrance.

Blues beat Blackhawks 4-3 in OT, take 2-0 leadAssociated PressDefenseman Barret Jackman scored on a drive through traffic, giving the St. Louis Blues their second straight 4-3 overtime victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday for a 2-0 series lead against the defending Stanley Cup champions.

Warriors beat Clippers 109-105 in playoff openerAssociated PressKlay Thompson scored 22 points, David Lee added 20 and the Golden State Warriors got Blake Griffin and Chris Paul in foul trouble to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 109-105 on Saturday in their playoff opener. Stephen Curry added 14 points for the Warriors, who trailed by 11 points to start the game before rallying in the third when Griffin and Paul were on the bench together.

Stevenson looks sharp in victory at YorkBy John BumbalesWith conference meets just two weeks away, area boys gymnastics teams continued to fine-tune their routines Saturday afternoon at the 37th Annual Ken Scorza Invitational hosted by York. And it turned out to be another banner day for No. 2-ranked Stevenson as the Patriots rolled to the championship of the 10-team meet with 150.2 points.

White Sox put Paulino on DL with rotator cuffAssociated PressChicago White Sox right-hander Felipe Paulino has been put on the disabled list because of right rotator cuff inflammation. The move came Saturday, the day after Paulino allowed 13 hits and 10 runs in 3 2-3 innings against Texas in the series opener.

Hupe sparks St. Charles East past BartlettBy Scott MillerTess Hupe did her job as a leadoff hitter to perfection for St. Charles East on Saturday. The senior reached base all 4 times at the plate, scored 3 runs, and drove in another to spark the Saints to a 9-5 win over Bartlett in Upstate Eight Conference crossover action.

Kaneland goes extra innings to beat GenevaBy Craig BrueskeOpportunity knocked repeatedly for both teams during Saturday’s nonconference baseball game between Geneva and Kaneland. The Knights (7-3) capitalized on their opportunities when it mattered most, pushing a run across without the benefit of a base hit to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh and scored the game-winning run a couple innings later on an RBI single by sophomore catcher Joe Laudont during their 7-6, extra-inning victory over the Vikings (8-2) in Maple Park.

Carr stars for Glenbard North at SchaumburgBy Michael EakenGlenbard North senior Simone Carr is getting a bit impatient. The DePaul-bound senior finished sixth in the 400 (56.49) in Class 3A last season and has been looking to pop a personal record this season. But with the weather not cooperating and with Carr being a bit banged up, she’s not been able to flash her state-worthy speed. Carr took a step forward on Saturday, cruising to first place in the 400 in an impressive 57.85 and leading Glenbard North to second place at the Mike Rebeck Invitational at Schaumburg’s Gary Scholz Field.

Williams, Johnson each score 24; Nets beat RaptorsAssociated PressDeron Williams and Joe Johnson each scored 24 points, Paul Pierce scored nine of his 15 points in the final quarter and the Brooklyn Nets beat the Toronto Raptors 94-87 Saturday in Game 1 of their first round playoff series.

Morrow no-hits Geneva in spit doubleheaderBy John LemonGeneva scored 9 runs in the second game of a doubleheader against Kaneland Saturday, and in its previous game this week the Vikings blasted 10 hits against one of the best pitchers they’ll see this year, Shannon Hohman from Waubonsie Valley. Which should tell you just how good Kaneland junior Angie Morrow pitched in the doubleheader opener Saturday. Morrow no-hit those hard-hitting Vikings, striking out six and walking one in a 3-0 victory.

Canadiens top Lightning again for 2-0 series leadAssociated PressRene Bourque had two goals and David Desharnais and Brendan Gallagher also scored Friday night, helping the Montreal Canadiens beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-1 in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series.Carey Price stopped 26 shots for Montreal, redeeming himself following a less than stellar performance during a 5-4 overtime win in Game 1.

Business

Fox executive fired over Flight 370 charity emailAssociated PressDarlene Tipton was with Fox for a quarter-century before her April 9 dismissal. She said she plans to continue with her initiative, soliciting contributions through the crowdfunding website GoFundMe.

Documents detail another delayed GM recallAssociated PressGeneral Motors waited years to recall nearly 335,000 Saturn Ions for power steering failures despite getting thousands of consumer complaints and more than 30,000 warranty repair claims, according to government documents released Saturday.

Ford to make SUV with Jiangling Motors in ChinaBy Bloomberg NewsThe midsize Ford Everest concept, which will be shown a the Beijing auto show and was created by the automaker’s design team in Australia, will be produced for the Chinese market by Ford’s JMC joint venture and distributed through JMC’s Ford-brand network of dealers, according to a statement by the Dearborn, Michigan-based automaker. Ford currently makes its SUVs in China with Chongqing Changan Automobile Co.

Hawaii is genetically engineered crop flash pointAssociated PressKauai and Hawaii counties have moved in the past several months to regulate genetically modified organisms and the pesticides the farms use. In Maui County, a group is collecting signatures for a potential ballot measure that would impose a temporary ban on the crops.

National energy boom blurs political battle linesAssociated PressEven in deeply Republican Texas, some communities have restricted fracking. In December, Dallas voted to effectively ban fracking within city limits.“You’re looking at a similar boom as we had in tech in 1996,” said Joe Brettell, a GOP strategist in Washington who works with energy companies. “The technology has caught up with the aspirations, and that changes the political dynamics fundamentally.”

Customers hit with expensive Del Taco billAssociated PressAbout 150 people who ordered this week at the Mexican-style fast food chain in Santa Paula, 65 miles northwest of Los Angeles, were mistakenly charged thousands of dollars for burritos, tacos and soft drinks.

Confrontation looms between Peru gold miners, armyBy FRANKLIN BRICENO“I don’t know what’s going to happen after the government deadline lapses. I think the violence will begin,” said Jorge Aldazabal, the governor of the Madre de Dios region who has spent more than a week camped out on a mattress in front of a 17th-century church to protest the crackdown and demand a solution.

Why Facebook is getting into the banking gameBy Leonid Bershidsky, Bloomberg NewsWho would want to use Facebook as a bank? That’s the question that immediately arises from news that the social network intends to get into the electronic money business. According to the Financial Times, Facebook is close to receiving authorization from Ireland’s central bank to become an “electronic money institution.”

Cyber cops: Target hackers may take years to findAssociated PressSecret Service investigators say they are close to gaining a full understanding of the methods hackers used to breach Target’s computer systems last December. But the agency says it could take years to identify the criminals who stole some 40 million debit and credit card numbers of Target shoppers.

Aereo CEO speaks on future of company, industryBy Associated PressThe future of Aereo, an online service that provides over-the-air TV channels, hinges on a battle with broadcasters that goes before the U.S. Supreme Court next week. For as little as $8 a month, Aereo subscribers in New York and 10 other markets can watch shows live or record them using Aereo’s online digital video recorder.

Review: Windows Phone advances with 8.1 updateAssociated PressMicrosoft’s new Windows system for smartphones addresses many of the shortcomings in previous versions. Before, voice search lacked the natural language interactions of Apple’s Siri and Google Now. The updated Windows Phone system has Cortana, which combines Siri’s personality with Google Now’s knack for anticipating what you need before you even ask.

The rise of big data: A double-edged swordBy Vivek Wadhwa, The Washington PostDebates are raging about whether big data still holds the promise that was expected or whether it was just a big bust. The failure of the much-hyped Google Flu Trends to accurately predict peak flu levels since August 2011 has heightened the concerns.

States want Google to crack down on online drug salesBy Matea Gold and Tom Hamburger, The Washington PostSeveral state attorneys general are pressing Google to make it harder for its users to find counterfeit prescription medicine and illegal drugs online, marking the second time in the past three years that the firm has drawn government scrutiny for its policies on rogue Internet pharmacies.

Review: Forward to the past with Windows updateBy Anick Jesdanun, Associated PressEven as Microsoft prepares for a future dominated by touch-screen devices, it is steering its Windows system to embrace more of the past. The divide between old and new is less pronounced in the latest, free update. That’s a welcome change, as that’s one of the things that annoy me most about Windows 8.

Technology stock slump fuels concern startup values may followBloomberg NewsThe decline in publicly traded technology stocks is fueling concern that Silicon Valley startups will follow with plummeting valuations. In the past month, Amazon.com, Facebook, TripAdvisor and Netflix have plunged at least 13 percent each. If the stock declines continue, young entrepreneurs may have to accept more realistic valuations for their companies.

Smartphone apps remind patients to take their medsAssociated PressMedicine only helps if you take it properly. And adhering to an exact schedule of what to take, and when, can be challenging for patients who are forgetful or need to take several medications. Doctors warn about the consequences and urge patients to use various techniques, such as using divided pill boxes or putting their pill bottles beside their toothbrush as a reminder to take their morning and bedtime medicines.

Study: Samsung phone durable, but iPhone has edgeBy Anick Jesdanun, Ap Technology WriterSamsung’s new Galaxy S5 smartphone is more durable than last year’s model and other leading Android phones, but the iPhone 5s outperformed all of them in part because of its smaller size, a new study finds. The S5 scored well given its water resistance and a sturdy back panel made of plastic, according to SquareTrade, a provider of extended protection plans.

Review: S5 features useful, less about gimmicksBy Anick Jesdanun, Ap Technology WriterThere’s a lot to like about Samsung’s new Galaxy S5 smartphone — among them, its relative lack of features. Some of the S4’s features — such as automatic scrolling of content when you tilt your phone or head — came across as clutter or gimmicks that often didn’t work as advertised. Samsung also simplified the phone’s interface.

Review: Siri-like Cortana fills Windows phone gapBy Anick Jesdanun, Ap Technology WriterWith the new Cortana virtual assistant, Windows catches up with Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android in a major way. Microsoft takes some of the best parts of Apple’s and Google’s virtual assistants and adds a few useful tools of its own. The result is Cortana, named after an artificial-intelligence character in Microsoft’s “Halo” video games.

Uber meets local lookalikes in Asia taxi-app warsAssociated PressRiding on its startup success and flush with fresh capital, taxi-hailing smartphone app Uber is making a big push into Asia. There’s a twist, though: Instead of being the game-changing phenomena it was in the U.S., Uber faces a slew of competitors using similar technology.

Life & Entertainment

TV deaths that made us cheer, not cryBy Sean StanglandLast Sunday’s episode of HBO’s “Game of Thrones” did the unthinkable and united the Internet commentariat in joyous jubilation — and did so by killing off a character. The death of a major or recurring character is the ultimate shock tactic in television, and rarely is such a death met with celebration.

‘Touched by an Angel’ producer back in series TVAssociated PressIn the decade that “Touched by an Angel” executive producer Martha Williamson has been away from series TV, much has changed. A new golden age has brought more daring shows, from “Mad Men” to “House of Cards” to “Breaking Bad,” and more ways to see them. But Williamson says her Hallmark Channel series, “Signed, Sealed, Delivered,” will be just as comfortable a fit for viewers as “Angel” was during its 1994-2003 run.

Carriage horse foes picket Liam Neeson’s NYC homeAssociated Pressnimal welfare activists picketing Liam Neeson’s home on Saturday said they don’t agree with him that the city’s carriage horses should keep working. Neeson didn’t appear as about 50 demonstrators filled the sidewalk in front of his apartment building on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. Police watched, and doormen photographed protesters hoisting signs with such slogans as “Liam Neeson: Stop Supporting Cruelty!” and “Worked to Death!” with an image of a dead horse in a park.

Man sentenced for taking Peter Frampton’s luggageAssociated PressA man who acknowledged stealing the luggage of 1970s rocker Peter Frampton at Denver International Airport has been given a 60-day suspended jail sentence followed by two years of probation.

Exhibit recreates Warhol’s 1964 World’s Fair muralAssociated PressAndy Warhol was one of 10 artists commissioned by famed architect Philip Johnson to create 20-foot-by-20-foot artworks for the outside of the New York State Pavilion’s Circarama theater.

Lucky homeowners get landscaping makeoversBy Jean MurphyLast summer six readers were chosen as winners in our “Get Your Summer On” outdoor makeover contest. Now, you can see the results of their winnings, with the prizes from the contest sponsors in place in their yards.

Fifty shades of beige and grayBy Joseph PubillonesAsk any designer which colors are the most basic and adaptable to any decoration scheme, and you're likely to hear beige and gray. These colors are tried and true base colors that allow other colors to shine.

Book notes: Have lunch with Brian FreemanBy Laura Milbrath Stewart Meet best-selling author Brian Freeman as he discusses and signs copies of his book "The Cold Nowhere" at 1 p.m. Thursday, April 24, at the Vernon Area Public Library District, 300 Olde Half Day Road, Lincolnshire. Registration is required. No walk-ins will be allowed.

Try planting these deer-proof bulbs this yearBy Lee Reich, Associated PressChomping down on a rosette of freshly emerging tulip leaves is just the thing to drive away winter doldrums — for deer. Crocuses probably taste almost as good to them. There’s no need, though, for us humans to forsake the blossoms of spring bulbs; there are plenty that don’t appeal to deer. Daffodils, for example. Deer won’t eat them.

On the road: Fly a kite along Lake MichiganBy Jacky RuniceA harbinger of springtime in Chicago, the 16th Annual Chicago Kids and Kites Festival returns to Cricket Hill in Montrose Harbor for free family fun Saturday, May 3. Hotel Felix Chicago gives guests the opportunity to upgrade their rooms by showing proof of green travel in celebration of Earth Month.

Tracing communist history in Budapest’s landscapeBy Sisi Tang, Associated PressThe toppling of statues and monuments during times of political upheaval has been a well-documented act in Eastern and Central European history. Among the cathartic gestures following the fall of communism in 1989, many of Budapest’s granite and stone giants were swiftly uprooted and later carted off to a field 30 minutes away from central Budapest that has become a sculpture park for the scorned monuments.

DVD previews: ‘Bettie Page,’ ‘Barefoot’The Washington Post There’s plenty of cheesecake in the documentary “Bettie Page Reveals All,” a portrait of the beloved 1950s pin-up. But the highlight is its meaty narration, courtesy of Page herself, speaking in the low, slightly gravelly register of an aging Southern belle. Getting this audio was a coup for filmmaker Mark Mori, who befriended Page in the years before her 2008 death, at age 85. The documentary comes to DVD Tuesday.

Weekend picks: Michael Yo brings the laughs to ImprovBy Scott C. Morgan & Laura Milbrath StewartIf you love comedian Michael Yo from “Chelsea Lately” or “E! News,” then grab a ticket to his “Hot Mess Comedy Tour” at The Improv Comedy Showcase in Schaumburg. See the 1971 feature film “Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory” at the Ogden 6 Theatre in Naperville. And Modern Day Romeos plays an intimate set of rock and blues at Austin's Fuel Room in Libertyville, all this weekend in the suburbs.

Art Apps for KidsBy Chelsey BoutanLet’s face it. Art activities for your child are fun, but they usually result in paint spills and sticky fingers. Give your child a creative outlet without the mess. Below are three iPad art apps that your little artist will love.

How to add an extra roomBy Pat LoganQ. I need some additional living space for my family and for an apartment in which my parents will live someday. I was thinking of adding a room above my two-car garage. Is this a feasible project, and how should I design it?

Go hang! Here’s howBy Rose Bennet GilbertQ. I need help arranging pictures to hang on the wall. There are four the same size and a big one that has a different frame. Is it OK to hang them together anyway? And how high should I hang them?

Save space with smart doorsBy Christine BrunDoors often take up a lot of precious space. Door style design is not often acknowledged as a practical way to gain space, so let’s examine a few ideas.

You can be green at work, tooBy Sharon NaylorIf you spend much of your week in your workplace, whether it’s in a cubicle or a corner office, you’re using costly and environment-affecting energy and resources every hour you’re at work.

Being green when you clean can be complicatedBy Brian PalmerSpring cleaning season is upon us. For those who care about the environment, the allure of using “green” cleaning products is more powerful than ever — from toilet bowl cleaners laced with lavender oil to window detergents that feature green tea and coconut.

Appellate court ruling on Palm is informativeIn the recent case of Palm v 2800 Lake Shore Drive Condominium Association, the Fifth Division of the First District Appellate Court of Illinois issued an order concerning the validity of many common association practices.

Tips to keep a clean and efficient refrigeratorBy Sharon NaylorYour refrigerator may be wasting a lot of energy and causing your home energy bills to soar. If your current refrigerator was made prior to 1993, it uses twice the amount of energy used by new models

Green up your fridge
How to waste less food in your home
By Sharon NaylorHow much food do you throw out each week? Do you cringe when you have to scrape half a tray of week-old lasagna into the trash or vow to “do better” when you’re tossing out moldy packs of pricey organic blueberries or strawberries?

Robust secondary market needed to replace Fannie, FreddieBy Jack GuttentagLast week, I discussed a major weakness of the draft proposal recently released by the Senate Banking Committee to replace Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The proposal is critically dependent on attracting private capital from “guarantors” who would operate as a buffer against loss to the government.

Discuss

The SoapboxDaily Herald editors sound off on topics as serene as hearing frogs in wetlands and as exciting as the Wolves coach's 700th win.

More taxes will weigh on job creationA Palatine letter to the editor: Springfield Democrats are taking advantage of veto-proof majorities in the House and Senate. At a time when 570,000 Illinoisans are out of work and our No. 1 priority should be creating jobs and improving our economy, members of the majority party are instead engaging in an assault on taxpayers and job creators through several tax hike proposals.

Bring alternatives to Obamacare out of hidingAn Elk Grove Village letter to the editor: In reference to the April 4 cartoon on your Opinion page about never finding the GOP alternative to Obamacare, I know where you can find it! It is locked up in Harry Reid’s bottom desk drawer.

Political right is wrong on wagesAn Arlington Heights letter to the editor: Many, many years ago I was a high school student and got a summer job at a chain store selling women’s apparel. My wage was 35 cents an hour. A postage stamp cost 3 cents. Imagine my dismay when the subject of minimum wage became a hot issue again and the political right was still using the same old argument that they were using when I started working, saying it would cause a loss of jobs.

‘Diaper derbies’ serve only the parentsA Mount Prospect letter to the editor: I am just an old grandma, but I personally fail to see the sense in subjecting tiny crawling infants to those “diaper derbies.” The little 10½-month-old girl in last week’s paper is obviously terrified realizing that her mommy is so far away and that she is surrounded by a group of strangers.

Improved access to vaccines neededA letter to the editor: On Jan. 1 Illinois began requiring all seventh and 12th grade students to receive a meningococcal vaccination. This necessitates adding it to the current list of vaccines pharmacists can administer to those ages 10 to 13 and older without a prescription.

Talk gets bigger, stick gets smallerA Naperville letter to the editor: In regards to the situation in the Ukraine; it is my opinion that all of the actions by this president, his administration and the current Senate has given Russia and others the perception that they can do almost anything they want and get away with it.

Left wants no probe of tax exemptionsAn Itasca letter to the editor: Two previous letter writers debated whether the IRS targeted progressives equally as they did conservatives as each of those groups applied for tax exempt status.

Why is liquor license asset to community?A Gilberts letter to the editor: I would like to comment on a Daily Herald article written by James Fuller concerning a vote on a zoning change to allow a liquor license at a soccer club. The article indicated there was a local organized coalition of Gilberts residents opposed to any drinking establishment situated in their backyards for a variety of reasons.

Sorry to lose ‘Soup to Nutz’ comic stripAn Elgin letter to the editor: I continue to enjoy the Daily Herald and have subscribed for many years. I was disappointed that Rick Stromoski’s “Soup to Nutz” was dropped. I particularly enjoyed his occasional poke at religion. Not many cartoonists have had the vision to take that tack. I expect that I will enjoy “Gray Matters.”